Energy Resources

Question 1

What is energy used for?

Answer 1

transport, electricity generation and heating

Question 2

Two types of non-renewable fuels

Answer 2

fossil fuels and nuclear fuels

Question 3

Seven types of renewable energy

Answer 3

Bio-fuel, wind, hydroelectricity, geothermal, tides, Sun, water waves

Question 4

What is renewable?

Answer 4

Energy resources that will not run out and can be replenished at the rate it is being used.

Question 5

What is non-renewable?

Answer 5

Energy resources that will run out and we have limited supplies of.

Question 6

Is non-renewable reliable?

Answer 6

Non-renewable resources can be used at any time as long as there is a supply of it.

Question 7

Is renewable reliable? (solar, hydroelectricity, tidal, wind and waves)

Answer 7

Solar doesn’t work at night and depends on weather during the day.
Hydroelectricity cannot work if reservoirs run dry.
Tidal depends on high tide and low tide timings.
Wind and waves can be too weak on calm days.

Question 8

How does a power station generate energy?

Answer 8

A fuel is used to heat water which then produces steam. This then turns a turbine which drives a generator.

Question 9

Advantages of non-renewable

Answer 9

• produce a lot of energy per kg of fuel
• relatively cheap
• nuclear power stations produce no greenhouse gases
• nuclear power stations transfer far much more energy

Question 10

Disadvantages of non-renewable

Answer 10

• release greenhouse gases
• produce sulphur dioxide
• nuclear produce radioactive waste
• nuclear could explode causing major damage

Question 11

Advantages of renewable

Answer 11

• never run out
• they do not produce greenhouse gases or acid rain
• do not create radioactive waste
• not necessary to build big stations

Question 12

Disadvantages of renewable

Answer 12

• not able to meet world demands yet
• wind turbines make noise and are unsightly
• tidal barrages affect the nature in the area
• hydroelectric streams affect the nearby nature and habitats are often flooded to make them
• solar cells need to be over a large area
• unreliable

Question 13

How is a variable demand for energy met?

Answer 13

• nuclear and coal stations provide constant power
• gas power stations and pumped storage systems provide for daily variations in demand and extra demand in winter
• renewable resources are used when demand is high and conditions are suitable
• renewable resources can be used at times of low demand to store energy

Question 14

Why don’t we just move completely to using renewables?

Answer 14

Science can identify environmental issues but can’t deal with the issues involving political, social, ethical and economic reasoning.